According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics, in 2010 adults drank too much and got behind the wheel approximately 112 million times, resulting in almost 300,000 incidents of drinking and driving each day.
“The four million adults who drink and drive each year put everyone on the road at risk,” said CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden in a press release issued by the CDC. “In fact, nearly 11,000 people are killed every year in crashes that involved an alcohol-impaired driver.”
Now a local company called StearClear hopes to reduce those numbers, specifically in Morristown and the surrounding area, by providing a designated driver service to help people and their cars get home safely after they’ve had a few drinks.
“Through StearClear, you can schedule a driver before you go out or request one when you need a ride,” said Stephen Chassen, vice president of sales and marketing. “Our service is unlike a taxi service in that you are driven home in your own vehicle so you don’t have to worry about going back to get your car the next day.”
Scheduling a ride is simple. Once you log into the StearClear smart phone app, the GPS on your phone will automatically find the address from which you are accessing the service, which becomes your pick-up address. You then add a destination address and will see a list of available drive teams from which you can choose.
The drive team consists of two people; one drives you home in your car while the other follows to transport the first driver to his or her next assignment.
The mileage and ride cost is automatically calculated prior to placing an order so you know exactly how much you’ll be charged. Rates are $20 per pickup plus $2.50 per mile. Premium members who pay a monthly membership fee pay a discounted rate of $15 per pickup and $2.25 per mile.
“Becoming a premium member makes the service a less expensive option even if it’s only used once a month,” said Chassen.
Statistics show that the StearClear pricing is on average 20 – 30 percent less than a black car service and approximately five percent less than a local cab ride. When you factor in the expense and inconvenience of retrieving your car, StearClear becomes even more cost effective.
In New Jersey, the service is currently operational in Bergen, Hudson, Morris, Somerset, Union and Mercer counties. StearClear is managed locally by franchises that hire drivers and provide customer service within their own communities.
“Everyone involved in StearClear shares a common concern about the health and safety of our communities,” noted Joshua Heffler, StearClear owner. “We are hopeful that through this business venture we can help reduce the number of impaired drivers on the road.”
To register with StearClear, download the free application at www.Stearclear.com and click on the App Store or Google Play Icon. And to learn more, visit www.stearclear.com.
